Comparison

WhatsApp Messenger vs Crait Lite

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

WhatsApp Messenger

Connect with friends and family globally through private messaging and high-quality calls. Share moments, documents, and stay in touch across devices, even on slow connections. Your conversations are secured with end-to-end encryption.

Highlights
  • End-to-end encrypted messaging
  • High-quality voice and video calls
  • Group chats and calls
  • Cross-device connectivity
  • Status updates
  • Location sharing
Features
Read full description

WhatsApp from Meta is a free messaging and calling app used by over 2 billion people across 180+ countries. It's super simple, reliable and private, making it perfect for staying in touch with your friends and family worldwide. WhatsApp works across mobile, tablet, and desktop even on slow connections, with no subscription fees*. Private messaging and calls across the world Your privacy is our priority. With end-to-end encryption, you can be sure that your personal messages and calls stay between you and who you send them to. And no one, not even WhatsApp, can read or listen to them. Simple and secure connections, right away All you need is your phone number - no usernames or logins needed. Easily view your contacts on WhatsApp and start messaging. And what's more, you can easily link your other devices, including iPads, for seamless connectivity. High quality voice and video calls Enjoy free, secure video and voice calls with up to 32 people for free. Your calls work across devices, even on slower connections, using your phone or tablet’s Internet service. Group chats to keep you in contact Stay close to friends and family through end-to-end encrypted group chats and calls. Share messages, photos, videos and documents across mobile, tablet, and desktop. You can also use call links and screen-sharing to make group calls and collaboration easy. Stay connected in real time You can share your location with those in your individual or group chats while using WhatsApp on your mobile phone. Or record a voice message for those moments when just text isn't good enough. Share daily moments through Status Share your everyday life with those who matter. With Status you can share text, photos, video, and GIF updates that disappear after 24 hours. You're always in control of who sees your status. Just choose who you want to share it with - all your contacts or selected ones. And bring your everyday to life. *Data charges may apply. Contact your provider for details. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you have any feedback or questions, please go to WhatsApp > Settings > Help > Contact Us Terms of Service: https://www.whatsapp.com/legal/terms-of-service Learn more about messaging privately: https://www.whatsapp.com/privacy Learn more about WhatsApp safety: https://www.whatsapp.com/security

About

Crait Lite

This secure messaging tool enhances workgroup productivity with encrypted calls, self-destructing messages, and file sharing. It protects digital assets by offering end-to-end encryption for sensitive business communications.

Highlights
  • End-to-end encryption
  • Self-destructing messages
  • Secure voice and group calls
  • Large group chat support (up to 1000)
  • Secure file sharing
  • Secure email for users
Features
Read full description

Crait Lite is where secure communication and collaboration happens. It is a secure messaging tool designed to make working life easier and more productive for work-groups. Why Crait? The simple answer is: Businesses need to protect their digital assets. Businesses are targets and will be targets of cyber hacking because they have information valuable to would-be criminals. No sector of corporate America is excluded from the threat of cyber hacking. This is why at Crait, we believe that business communication deserves a security upgrade. What Crait provides - Secure one-on-one or group calls and can support chats with up to 1000 people. - Messages that self-destruct after the messages are read. - End-to-end encryption between the sender’s device and the recipient such that the encryption key never leaves the device; no party in the middle. - Secure chat, voice, as well as file-sharing capabilities to work-groups. - Secure email for Crait-to-Crait users.

Screenshots

WhatsApp Messenger4 screens
Crait Lite4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Crait Lite at none against WhatsApp Messenger's 11. Crait Lite also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (12 vs 15.1). WhatsApp Messenger's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (19M vs 10). On price and rating there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. WhatsApp Messenger sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.00 per month. Crait Lite asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for WhatsApp Messenger against 4.7 for Crait Lite. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: WhatsApp Messenger has 19M ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

WhatsApp Messenger ships an update every 3 days, Crait Lite every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and July 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
WhatsApp Messenger versus Crait Lite: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWhatsApp MessengerCrait Lite
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (19M ratings)4.7 (10 ratings)
Positive reviews50.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings19M — better10
Update frequencyEvery 3 days — betterEvery 3 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank#1 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.112 — better
Further details — not scored
Size361 MB58 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperWhatsApp Inc.Crait Technology Inc.

Customer experience

WhatsApp Messenger

All ratings18,645,986 ratings
Positive92.2%
Neutral3.0%
Negative4.8%
Written reviews16,421 reviews
Positive50.5%
Neutral8.2%
Negative41.3%

Crait Lite

All ratings10 ratings
Positive90.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative10.0%

Bugs and requests

WhatsApp Messenger

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App freezing and crashing issues
  • Notification problems (missing, delayed)
  • Backup and restore failures
  • Arbitrary account bans with poor support

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add dark mode option
  • Improve group management features
  • Allow more customization of status and notifications
  • Enhance backup and restore functionality
  • Provide better customer support and appeal process

Crait Lite

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

WhatsApp Messenger

Subscriptions3
  • No ads (1 account)$4.001 Month
  • No ads (4 accounts)5 variants$21.991 Month
  • No ads (5 accounts)4 variants$26.991 Month
None

Crait Lite

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is WhatsApp Messenger free?
WhatsApp Messenger is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Crait Lite free?
Crait Lite is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, WhatsApp Messenger or Crait Lite?
WhatsApp Messenger and Crait Lite are both rated 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store, from 19M and 10 ratings respectively.
Do WhatsApp Messenger or Crait Lite have ads?
WhatsApp Messenger shows ads; Crait Lite does not.
Which is updated more often, WhatsApp Messenger or Crait Lite?
WhatsApp Messenger ships an update every 3 days, and Crait Lite every 3 months. Most recently, WhatsApp Messenger was updated on September 25, 2026 and Crait Lite on July 9, 2026.

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